Joseph Morelle, U.S. Congressman representing New York’s 25th district, used his social media platform on October 2, 2025, to express concern over the ongoing government shutdown and its effects on small businesses and healthcare.
In a post from October 2, Morelle highlighted the economic consequences of previous government closures: “Trump’s last shutdown cost our economy $11 billion; small businesses can’t afford to be collateral damage again. @SBAgov lending programs have ground to a halt, meaning $100 million in small business loans is vanishing every day the government is closed.”
Later that same day, he emphasized the daily toll on small businesses and called for bipartisan cooperation: “Every day this shutdown drags on, small businesses pay the price. Republicans need to come to the table and work with us to end the shutdown.”
In another message posted hours later as he returned to Rochester, Morelle criticized House Republicans for their absence during what he described as a national crisis: “It’s day 2 of the Republican shutdown and I’m headed back to Rochester, but I’m deeply disappointed @HouseGOP didn’t even bother to show up this week amidst a national crisis. @HouseDemocrats will keep working to protect American healthcare and bring down costs for families.”
Joseph Morelle has represented New York’s 25th District in Congress since 2018 after serving in the New York State Assembly for nearly three decades. He was born in Utica, New York in 1957 and currently resides in Irondequoit. Morelle earned his BA from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 1986.
